Old Gu glanced at Zhuang Rui, but not wanting to neglect Hu Rong in the courtyard, he let Zhuang Rui off the hook. Only Gu Yun stood in the courtyard feeling rather aggrieved. Why was he destined to serve people and run errands?
"Uncle-Master, I've been overseas for a while now, and as soon as I got back, I came to see you..."
As soon as Zhuang Rui entered the room, he consciously started boiling water and laid out the tea set he had given to the old man. The old man was getting on in years, so he needed to be coaxed a bit; as the saying goes, an old man is like a child.
"Zhuang Rui, your senior uncle isn't angry with you, but these past two years you've been involved in museums and overseas Taobao shopping. Although you've been doing all the right things, let me ask you, how much of your duties as a director of the Jade Association have you actually fulfilled?"
Seeing Zhuang Rui's obedient appearance, the old man couldn't stay angry. He paused for a moment and then said, "I have always been fond of jade carving and appreciation. The carving skills have been passed down to someone, but no one has truly mastered my appreciation skills. Only you have some talent, but look at you these past two years, have you even touched jade?"
As Gu Tianfeng spoke, he became a little agitated. Only then did Zhuang Rui understand that the old man was blaming him for not doing his job properly.
Thinking about it, the old man was right. Zhuang Rui made his fortune in jade, but in recent years, he has been doing things that are getting further and further away from the jade business. No wonder the old man was angry.
"Senior Uncle, I was wrong about this. I will pay more attention to the work of the Jade Association in the future..."
Zhuang Rui did feel somewhat guilty. You see, it was Old Master Gu who pushed through all opposition to let Zhuang Rui join the Jade Association.
Chapter 954 Pretending to be Confused When You Know the Truth
To be honest, Zhuang Rui felt quite ashamed. He had been a member of the Jade Association for several years, but as a director of the association, his understanding of the association was limited to which way the main gate opened. That was only when he went to pick up the appraisal certificate. He had never attended any of the annual meetings.
However, Zhuang Rui has received a lot of benefits from the association. Not to mention the time he used the jade association to participate in the Myanmar jade auction, the appraisal certificates for the jade ornaments in the "Qin Ruilin" shop were basically obtained from the association for free.
Although Zhuang Rui did not fraudulently claim or fill out the forms incorrectly, as a director of the association, he saved a lot of trouble and money every year. If it were someone without connections, even if they spent money, it would not be an easy thing to obtain these certificates.
Zhuang Rui enjoys the benefits of the Jade Association every year, but he has not fulfilled his obligations. Although Zhuang Rui's reputation in the antique industry has been growing in the past two years, some people in the Jade Association have started to gossip.
Especially since Zhuang Rui made a move in Myanmar more than two years ago, almost everything he has done has been unrelated to jade, which has led many people to question Zhuang Rui's abilities and, consequently, his status as a director.
"Senior Uncle, I was wrong about this. I will definitely participate in more association activities in the future..."
Zhuang Rui knew that Grandpa Gu had taken a lot of gossip for him. The old man valued his reputation the most. He had introduced himself into the association, and because of him, others had questioned him. Of course, the old man was not in a good mood.
"It's not about asking you to participate in association activities, but rather to pay more attention to the jade industry. A few years ago, you made a name for yourself through gambling on jade stones, but what about the last two years? We haven't heard of you appraising a single piece of jade. No wonder people are gossiping..."
The old man sighed. He had high expectations for Zhuang Rui, especially for Zhuang Rui's keen observation skills and intuition about jade. The old man once regarded Zhuang Rui as his successor in the field of jade appreciation. However, Zhuang Rui's behavior in the past two years has disappointed the old man.
"Yes, Zhuang Rui, you were quite famous in Myanmar a few years ago, but after not participating in the auction for two years, few people mention you anymore. I think you need to show your face more often, otherwise you'll be forgotten soon..."
Hu Rong echoed Old Master Gu's words, saying that all professions are essentially the same, much like the entertainment industry. To maintain one's status, one must occasionally make a splash and gain more exposure.
Don't be fooled by the fact that the jade trade is all about professionalism and expertise. There are quite a few people who are not very skilled but want to climb the ladder. Since they can't find Zhuang Rui to evaluate them, they start to speak unethically. Some people even say terrible things about Zhuang Rui, and they think that Zhuang Rui's achievements in the past few years were just good luck.
Hu Rong had heard some rumors over the past two years, but he knew that Zhuang Rui's business was so large that he didn't focus on jade, so he didn't tell Zhuang Rui.
"Show yourself? How? Go gambling on jade again?"
Zhuang Rui smiled bitterly upon hearing this. He was not short of money now. Although it is true that you can never have too much good stuff, in his opinion, gambling on stones was nothing but blatant cheating.
Finding bargains and salvaging sunken ships on Taobao is like picking up items from the hands of God, but gambling on stones is like using spiritual energy to bully people. Zhuang Rui was afraid of being punished for using too much spiritual energy, so he was really a bit wary of it.
Therefore, Zhuang Rui deliberately avoided participating in the Myanmar jade auction in the past two years. Otherwise, with his current financial resources, he could have easily swept up all the valuable jade rough stones at the auction.
"You don't need to gamble on stones; luck plays a bigger role in that than skill. Just participate in some appraisal activities organized by the association when you have free time..."
The old man wasn't really angry with Zhuang Rui. He just wanted Zhuang Rui to pay more attention to jade. He had passed on some of his unique methods for identifying jade to Zhuang Rui, and he didn't want his decades of hard work to go unrecorded.
"Uncle-Master, I understand. I will definitely participate in such opportunities in the future and will not let you down..."
Zhuang Rui felt a little embarrassed when he heard Hu Rong mention some rumors circulating in the industry.
Although Zhuang Rui has been at the height of his fame in the antique and archaeology circles in recent years, his reputation in the jade circle has declined, and few people mention his remarkable achievements from a few days ago anymore.
"Ancient methods of jade gambling can actually reveal a person's understanding of jade. In a sense, it's also a form of jade appraisal. Zhuang Rui, if you have the time, you might as well participate in another jade auction. That would surely shut many people up..."
Hu Rong's words startled Zhuang Rui and Gu Tianfeng for a moment, then they remembered that this man was a jade tycoon from Myanmar and couldn't help but laugh.
The old man agreed with Hu Rong's words and said with a smile, "That's right. I trust Xiao Rui to do things. He won't get too caught up in this. Very good. He can try his hand at it again when he has the chance..."
"Hey, Uncle-Master, you were the one who advised me to get involved in jade gambling back then, how come it's the other way around now?"
Seeing that the old man's mood had improved, Zhuang Rui couldn't help but crack a joke.
"This is directed at people. You rose to fame at the Myanmar jade auction a couple of years ago, but you were able to withdraw gracefully and didn't go to the auction for two years. That kind of perseverance is not something ordinary people can do, so I believe you won't become addicted. Besides, with your wealth, it wouldn't be easy for you to gamble everything away..."
As he spoke, the old man laughed heartily. He was Zhuang Rui's specially appointed honorary consultant for the "Dingguang Museum," and he knew a thing or two about Zhuang Rui's wealth.
"Hehe, that's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Grandpa. If it weren't for your reminder, I might have lost everything, even my underwear..."
Zhuang Rui seized the opportunity to flatter the old man. Seeing that the old man was in a good mood, he reached out and picked up the package at his feet, saying, "Uncle-Master, you've been in good health these past two years. I wonder if your skills... have declined?"
While pouring tea for Grandpa Gu, Zhuang Rui noticed that the old man's hands were still very steady, which must mean he usually takes good care of himself. Giving the old man some tea to help him relax should make him happy.
"You brat, I've carved quite a few things for you, haven't I? Bracelets, jade pendants, ornaments, what haven't I made? Still want to bother me?"
Actually, as soon as Zhuang Rui entered, Gu Tianfeng could tell that he was carrying a piece of raw jade, but he was too angry to ask at the time. Now that he felt better, he was also quite curious about what Zhuang Rui had brought.
It should be noted that Zhuang Rui has asked Gu Tianfeng to help him many times, but every time he has brought jade materials, they can be described as top-grade materials, which would be priceless even if sold as ordinary materials.
As one of the top jade carving masters in China, one must also consider the material when carving objects.
People like Mr. Gu would not carve jade if given a piece of rough, inferior material, no matter how much money they were offered. However, if given a rare and precious piece of jade, he would gladly work for free.
The jade materials Zhuang Rui had previously used, whether it was the imperial green jade for pendants or the multicolored Hetian chalcedony for fruit platters, were rare treasures that Gu Tianfeng had rarely seen in decades. Therefore, the old man had high expectations for the materials Zhuang Rui had acquired this time.
Upon hearing the old man's words, Zhuang Rui deliberately feigned indignation and said, "Hey, Uncle-Master, if that's how you see it, I'm not opening this thing. Brother Hu is also into jadeite, I'll just give it to him to have carved..."
"Do you think I care? I've seen all kinds of fine materials in my decades of life, what could be more precious than imperial green?"
The old man pursed his lips. After retiring, he often interacted with his grandchildren and had developed a bit of a childlike personality. He didn't take Zhuang Rui's words seriously.
"Alright, since you put it that way, I'll take a look at it and then take it with me..."
As Zhuang Rui spoke, he grinned mischievously and opened the package, which was wrapped in layers of a makeshift bed sheet.
Old Master Gu didn't bring his reading glasses, so he couldn't see clearly when the package was opened. But Hu Rong, who was sitting next to him, was young. In his forties, he was at the prime of his life and immediately stood up from his chair when he saw the yellow jadeite material that looked like chicken fat.
"This...this material..."
Hu Rong didn't care about being impolite at this moment. He rushed forward, picked up the top-quality yellow jade, and carried it to the doorway, examining it carefully in the sunlight.
"Zhuang Rui, go...go to the inner room and get my glasses..."
Although the old man couldn't see clearly what kind of material it was, he could tell from Hu Rong's behavior that this piece of jade was definitely extraordinary. Otherwise, Hu Rong, who was a powerful figure in the jade-producing area, would never have lost his composure like this.
While Zhuang Rui went inside to get his reading glasses, Hu Rong spoke to Gu Tianfeng, saying, "Grandpa Gu, do you still stand by what you said? Are you going to let this junior carve this piece of material?"
Although he hadn't examined it closely yet, such a top-quality yellow jadeite might only be seen once every hundred years. Hu Rong disregarded any notion of respecting the elderly and caring for the young, and was determined to convince the old man that he had no choice but to stick to his word.
As mentioned earlier, even renowned artists need high-quality materials. To make a name for themselves in the jade industry, they need to have a few representative works that can shock the industry and make people acknowledge their status.
However, while there are many skilled carvers and designers, good materials are hard to come by. Now that Hu Rong has seen this top-quality yellow jade, he can no longer care about his reputation as a jade design master and has started to play tricks.
"What did I just say? Xiao Hu, look at me, I'm getting old, I forget what I just said. Sigh, I'm getting old, really old..."
What Hu Rong didn't expect was that this old man was like a cunning old fox, completely refusing to fall into his trap and simply pretending to be confused even though he knew the truth.
Chapter 955 Acquisition
"You little punk, I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice, are you trying to fool me?"
The old man, whose eyes seemed dim with age, sized Hu Rong up and down before smiling and saying, "Young Hu, sit down and have some tea. How could I, an old man, refuse something that Xiao Zhuang brought..."
When Hu Rong heard Gu Tianfeng's words, he was so angry he almost vomited blood. Which old man had just said he didn't care? He changed his mind so quickly; he was a complete scoundrel.
"Old Master, you are a man of great experience and knowledge. You must have handled this material before. Why not let this junior practice his skills? It would be a way to mentor the younger generation, wouldn't it?"
Hu Rong was still somewhat unwilling. Even though he came from a family of jadeite enthusiasts in Myanmar, he had never seen this kind of yellow jadeite before. The jadeite roast chicken that appeared at an arts and crafts exhibition a few years ago was of a much lower quality than this piece.
Having access to a jade mine gives Hu Rong a significant advantage, allowing him to acquire a considerable amount of top-quality jade. However, for such rare and precious items, he still hopes to design and carve them himself.
"Uncle-Master, your glasses..."
The old man's room wasn't in this main room. As soon as Zhuang Rui walked into the room from the courtyard, he sensed that something was wrong. The old man was staring at Hu Rong with wide eyes, while Hu Rong was holding the yellow jade in his arms like a precious treasure.
"Hey Zhuang Rui, you're really not being fair! We're related, for goodness' sake, and you didn't even tell me you were hiding such a treasure..."
As soon as Zhuang Rui came in, Hu Rong started making a fuss. He blamed himself for not paying attention when he came. If he had just glanced at what Zhuang Rui was carrying, he wouldn't be fighting with the old man for materials now.
“Brother Hu, I only cut it open recently because I needed money. Otherwise, I would have given it to the old man to carve into an object long ago. Don’t look down on me, there’s only one of these. Why don’t you discuss it with my master…”
Zhuang Rui brought this piece of jade for two reasons. First, he wanted to bring this piece of yellow jade to the world and add a highlight to his jade exhibition hall. Second, he wanted to apologize to the old man. Naturally, he would not change his mind because of Hu Rong's words.
"What's there to discuss? Leave the material here. Alright, you can all leave now. Come back in two months to collect your things..."
At this moment, Gu Tianfeng had already put on his reading glasses and carefully examined the piece of yellow jade. His face first showed surprise, and then he was overjoyed. He never expected that even though he was about to be buried, God would give him another piece of material that could be carved into a masterpiece.
Zhuang Rui was displeased upon hearing this and said, "Hey, Uncle-Master, why are you kicking people out? My two children came to visit, and you didn't even bring them anything, let alone give them a meal?"
Actually, Zhuang Rui was worried that the old man would overwork himself. Carving jade pieces is not a problem for the elderly, but the preliminary design and drawing work requires a lot of brain cells.
Grandpa Gu was in high spirits after acquiring such a piece of jade. He didn't take Zhuang Rui's words to heart, nodding and smiling as he said, "Yes, yes, let's eat. Everyone stay for dinner, and we'll have a drink together later..."
"Grandpa, you...you..."
Zhuang Rui and Gu Tianfeng were delighted, but Hu Rong was incredibly frustrated. He almost blurted out the word "shameless," but managed to swallow it back. He then said with resentment, "Grandpa, is there anything I can do to help with this design?"
If this carving didn't work, Hu Rong decided to settle for second best. Being able to have his name written in the designer's column of this finished piece of yellow jade would be a great achievement, especially since it was a collaboration with Gu Lao, which would bring him prestige.
"design?"
Gu Tianfeng pondered for a moment upon hearing this. He was getting old, and his mind was indeed not as quick as that of a young person. Design was a real challenge for him.
However, Hu Rong was always traveling in Southeast Asia, and Old Master Gu was not very familiar with his reputation. He was considering whether to entrust the design of this item to Hu Rong.
"Uncle-Master, Brother Hu, I have something to say. Would you two mind if I said something?"
When Zhuang Rui saw Hu Rong make the request, the old man hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Uncle-Master, Brother Hu is a very famous jade designer in Southeast Asia. The jade tree in my museum, from design to carving, was all done by Brother Hu. I believe that having him design this piece will certainly not be a waste of your skills..."
Hu Rong nodded repeatedly upon hearing Zhuang Rui's words. This was truly a kindred spirit. A thousand pieces of gold are easy to find, but a true friend is hard to come by. He would definitely thank Zhuang Rui properly later.
Before Zhuang Rui could finish speaking, he looked at Hu Rong and continued, "Brother Hu, I'm going to say something you might not like to hear, please don't be angry..."
Hu Rong waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Don't be angry, don't be angry. Just say what you have to say. Why are we brothers talking nonsense?"
"As for your jade design skills, Brother Hu, you'd probably rank in the top 3 internationally, no doubt about it. But when it comes to carving, you're nowhere near as good as the old man..."
Hearing Zhuang Rui's words, Hu Rong could only nod. The reputation that Old Master Gu had built up over decades in the jade industry was something Hu Rong couldn't possibly challenge.
"So my opinion is that you should design this item and the old man should handle the craftsmanship. The two of you working together will not disgrace this piece. Uncle-Master, Brother Hu, what do you think?"